"I say to myself, I will not mention His name, I will speak in His name no more. But then, it becomes like a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones, I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it." Jeremiah 20:7-10

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Who, Me, A Patron Saint?

My sweet friend Mary at The Beautiful Gate has cast lots for a MEME and my name came up in her list of five bloggers to tag.

The rules of this MEME are as follows:

"Assuming you are a saint, and your cause has been executed, your miracles confirmed, your date on the calendar established, all that is required is to select that of which Holy Mother Church will name you Patron (ess) of.

For this meme, you must name your patronage
and then tag 5 other people who would like to play along.

Linking your answer to your nominator's post would make it easier to get your answers."

This all sounds a bit tricky because first of all, you have to be holy enough to make it to heaven and then you have to have done something meaningful enough in your life to inspire others to turn to you in prayer. Mary herself has thought that she would be made the patron saint of those suffering from depression and anxiety and knowing that she has already offered much prayer for me regarding those issues, I'm sure she would make a great patron saint for those who suffer from those afflictions.

I thought about all of the things that are near and dear to my heart like praying for priests and vocations, caring for my family, searching for sea glass, leading Marian Devotion in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee with Roses for Our Lady, making jelly, gathering with my sisters in prayer, writing this blog-there's so much to choose from and so many groups which already have a fabulous patron saint upon which I could never improve (thinking of St. John Vianney here as the patron of priests.) So here's my best shot...

Although the poor have a fabulous patron in St. Vincent de Paul, and a great champion in St. Lawrence whose feast is today, my life's work focuses on a particular section of the poor, that is, young mothers who live in poverty. For the past fifteen years I have spent my working days as a nutritionist for the WIC Program (Women, Infants and Children) where I counsel young mothers about nutritional care for themselves and their young children. I see women who suffer terribly from the effects of poverty and who struggle due to abusive relationships, a promiscuous society, lack of faith, mental and physical illness, drug abuse and so much more. They often wonder where the next meal will come from, they worry about what kinds of friends their children will associate with, they have so much to learn about basic health issues and parenting concerns.

For example, just yesterday I met a young mother of two children who had no place of her own to call home. She was living with friends but would have to move out shortly. I gave her a list of homeless shelters to contact but wished I could have taken her by the hand and led her to a home of her own. As she left my office with the list of shelters in her hand she said how she hated the very thought of staying at a homeless shelter and I assured her of my prayers. My words at the time felt so empty and useless but as I follow through with prayer for her I know that God will see to it that all of her needs are met and He will lovingly carry her through her struggles.

I also met with a pregnant mother who, at the age of 24, already has two lively toddlers and has suffered through a miscarriage and two abortions. Offering my words of sympathy for her losses feels so hollow, but I trust that God will comfort her and lead her to value the life growing within her and to bring that baby to a safe and healthy start in life.

I visit with mothers who are homeless, hungry, tired, overworked and stressed. I see mothers who work and are sorrowful about leaving their children in daycare and mothers who can't find work and aren't able to provide for their children and that causes sorrow as well. These mothers have a lot to worry about! But what carries them through each stressful day is always the great love that they have for their children and the desire to give them the very best life possible.

I can relate to so many of the women that I see each day. So many of their worries are my worries, too. I also fret about finances, the health, education and social lives of my children, and the burdens of caring for my family in a society that makes family life a low priority. I carry all of my stress to the Lord in prayer each day and I bring my clients to Him in my prayer as well. We are all in this difficult life of motherhood together!

So, I pray that the Lord finds me worthy enough of sainthood one day and if I am ever to enjoy the glories of heaven, I would spend that time praying in intercession for young mothers whose lives are weighed down by the burden of financial poverty and all of the problems that surround that particular lot in life. May the Lord grant me the grace of one day becoming the Patron Saint of young mothers who live in poverty.

The rules of this MEME require that after acknowledging the MEME source, (Mary) and having written about which group of people would turn to me for prayer upon my death, I must pass this MEME on to five other bloggers and they are:

6 comments:

Anne,Thank you. Whenever I read your posts about your work I think of how blessed the women you help are to have you - both to help them with their physical needs and spiritually as an intercessor. This is a beautiful post and you would make a wonderful Patron Saint for young mothers in need. I've noticed in reading people's memes on this subject of patronage that many of them choose things they are already doing here on earth. I've also been surprised at how different all the posts are concerning this meme.

Thank you so much Anne! YOu are a wonderful resource and faithful Catholic woman--it is an honor to share blog space with you. I love this saint idea and will work on my own to pass along --thanks for the MEME and I confess, I have yet to figure out what MEME means!!! But I am sure someone will tell me what it means soon!

Hi Anne. I can only type with a couple of fingers, and am on my way to the doctor to see what's up with what feels like a sprained wrist.

Since this is my only chance to ever be a Patron Saint : ) I would still like to particpate, if I can take a day or two to type up something in my impaired situation. At the moment, I have to go blow dry my hair which will be quite a challenge with the use of only one hand. Ah well, humility! I sure need some anyway. God bless and if you decide to tag someone who can type more than 10 words/minute, I certainly understand. Let me know if you got the book of poetry at the library. Have a blessed day! Patricia

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I give my life to you.

Sea Glass Prayer

Handmaids of the Precious Blood

click on the picture to learn more about nuns for priests and the oblates of this order

Roses for Our Lady

click on the image to learn about this group

Archdiocese of Milwaukee-Monthly Prayer Request for Priests

click on the image to learn more about this apostolate of prayer

Rosary for the Bishop

Invisible Monastery

Pray for vocations in your diocese

The Apostleship of Prayer

The mission of the Apostleship of Prayer is to encourage you to pray daily for the Church and the world, as well as for Pope Benedict's two prayer intentions each month. Since 1844 millions of members of the Apostleship of Prayer throughout the world have offered themselves to God for the good of others. In offering ourselves we imitate Jesus Christ, who offered himself for the salvation of all. Join us!

St. John Vianney-Patron Saint of Priests

"Put all the good works in the world against one Holy Mass; They will be as a grain of sand beside a mountain" Saint John Vianney

From John's Passion by Bach

Consider, my soul, with a tortured joy, and with a bitter burden half stifling my heart, your highest good in the sufferings of Jesus. Consider how, for you, on the thorns that prick Him, blooms the flowers that open the gates of heaven; from His bitter wormwood you can pluck sweet fruit in abundance. Therefore, never cease to contemplate Him.

Erbarme Dich from Matthew's Passion by Bach

Have mercy, my God, for my tears' sake; look hither, heart and eyes weep before Thee bitterly. Although I have strayed from Thee, yet I have returned again; for Thy Son has reconciled us through His agony and mortal pain. I do not deny my guilt, but Thy grace and favor is far greater than the sin which I ever confess in myself.

Prayer of St. John Vianney

I love You, O my God, and my only desire is to love You until the last breath of my life. I love You, O my infinitely lovable God, and I would rather die loving You, than live without loving You. I love You, Lord and the only grace I ask is to love You eternally...My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath.

Prayer of St. Louis de Montfort

What ill or evil, Lord, can harm
This joyous heart that You alone can charm?
I love You more with every breath,
So how can I fear life or death?
To love You, Father, is to live and sing
The songs the angels sing their King.
God alone in every cell of me!
God alone! For all eternity!